Municipal Elected Officials Institute Curriculum

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Sessions A and B are held in person in Columbia in conjunction with the Association's
Hometown Legislative Action Day. Sessions A and B
cannot be taken at the same time. Session A must be taken before Session B.

The other required courses are held during the day at the 10 regional councils of governments' sites. During the program, participants ask questions via phone conference with an expert on the topic. Also, time is available for group discussions at each site.
Officials may also
take five of the required courses online through our on-demand option.

Basic Budgeting and Municipal Finance Participating in the municipal budget process is one of the most fundamental responsibilities of a local official. Learn the most important steps in the budget process from preparation to implementation and understand council's responsibility for monitoring budget compliance.

Forms of Municipal Government A council operates under one of three forms of municipal government in South Carolina. Learn about the roles and responsibilities of councilmembers, the mayor and manager/administrator in each of the forms.

Freedom of Information Act in SCOpen government is the cornerstone of accountable leadership. Learn about the state's FOIA requirements, including the release of public documents, proper notice of public meetings and appropriate use of executive sessions.

Municipal Governance and PolicyLaws governing municipal authority in South Carolina are complex. Explore the legislative source of municipal authority, the meaning of the term "Home Rule," and how to implement effective municipal policies.

Municipal Economic DevelopmentFor municipalities to attract new businesses and grow existing businesses, local officials must establish an organizational commitment to economic development. Find out how to identify a community's economic development assets, develop a plan to take advantage of these assets and use available tools to finance projects.

The City as an Employer Your most important resource as an employer should be your employees. Learn the basics of effective human resource management and the elected officials' roles and responsibilities as a public sector employer.

Conducting Public Meetings State law requires all municipalities to adopt and follow rules of procedure. Learn how to hold effective meetings by adopting, applying and enforcing rules of procedure and how they relate to issues such as noticing public meetings, holding executive sessions, establishing a quorum and taking minutes.

Visioning, Strategic Planning and Goal Setting The ability of the mayor, councilmembers and staff to work together as a team for the common good of the community is a strong asset. Get tips for establishing a vision for your municipality, thinking strategically, translating ideas into strategies and working with others to put those strategies into action to reach defined goals.

An Overview of Local Government Planning and Zoning Planning and zoning issues are complex, yet critical, components to promote orderly growth, reduce land use conflicts, and prepare for the expansion of public services and facilities to serve developing areas. Explore the role of the planning commission and board of zoning appeals and learn about state laws governing their operation.

Business License Tax Administration Business licensing can be an important source of municipal revenue, and state law is very specific about how to administer the tax properly. Is it legal to exempt individual businesses from paying the tax? Does state law require using gross receipts to calculate licenses? Find out the answers to these questions and more.

Ethics and Public AccountabilityPublic accountability is key to local leaders' credibility. Learn about the state Ethics Act that dictates proper campaign procedures, rules of conduct and financial disclosure.

Intergovernmental RelationsCollaboration and sharing resources across all levels of government are vital to a municipality's success. Learn about the roles and responsibilities of federal, state and local governments in South Carolina; how to develop effective working relationships with officials on each level; and how advocacy is a way to ensure councils have the tools they need to lead their hometowns.

Liability of Municipalities and Their Elected OfficialsClaims and litigation are unavoidable costs of providing municipal services. Explore how to avoid and reduce the number and costs of such claims and understand how public officials can be held individually liable for their actions while carrying out their duties.

Municipal Annexation Annexation is an important tool for cities to grow strategically. Learn the requirements for each method of annexation and how to prepare and implement a successful annexation plan.